TALK TO US SPECIAL: TREEPS.

Ahead of his upcoming two-single release, “Grey Area: Scene 1 & Scene 2,” and his next EP, RADARCharts caught up with Treeps for an exclusive TALK TO US session — a deep dive into his roots, his rise, and his next move.

WHERE HE COMES FROM

You started your solo journey officially in 2019 with Wicked Whyne. How did your early beginnings and upbringing shape the artist we know today as Treeps?

Growing up in ojuelegba, surulere, from an early age, I was surrounded by the sounds of the streets Fuji, Highlife, R&B, Afrobeats, the daily hustle, the traffic, the distant calls of hawkers, all of that was music to me. But beyond the sound, it was the spirit of survival and creativity in unlikely places that formed the foundation of Treeps. There’s a beauty in simplicity, in struggle, in making something out of almost nothing, and that’s where my artistry was born.

Afro-fusion is such a broad and evolving sound. Who were the biggest influences that helped shape your sonic direction in the early stages of your career?

There are quite a number of them talking about Duncan mighty, ABBA, ASA, Bright chimezie, and djniee. Just to mention a few

You’ve worked with names like Sesan, Barobeatz, and opened for Ayra Starr and Cheque at Beat Naija FM’s concert. What did those early experiences teach you about stage presence and musical identity?

Those early experiences taught me how to command attention, stay authentic on stage, and define my sound. Opening for big names pushed me to connect with the crowd and sharpen my musical identity under pressure. Now i can say i’m better at it

You’ve described music as “an escape route” in your Guardian interview. Can you expand on that — what does music help you express or release that words alone can’t?

Sure, when I called music an “escape route,” I meant that it let me express things I can’t always say with words. Sometimes emotions are too big, too messy, or too layered to explain, but music makes room for all of that.

Each of your songs — from Craze to Deception — feels emotionally charged and rhythmically layered. How do you approach storytelling through your songwriting?

To be honest, I won’t necessarily say there’s a template, i just follow what the SPIRITs whisper to me. 

Nigeria’s music scene is incredibly competitive. What challenges did you face breaking through as an independent Afro-fusion artist, and how did you overcome them?

As an independent artist, I don’t have the luxury of a big PR machine or massive funding. I am building my audience one person at a time, and we’ll get there with my current partnership with Music Dome Ent.  Expect so much more than before. 

Before we jump into what’s next, give a special shoutout or prayer to your supporters who’ve been on this journey with you from day one.

  I don’t take any stream, post, or share for granted. Genuinely, it means everything to me because it draws me closer to the goal, and i’m ever grateful about that. 

WHERE HE’S GOING TO

Your upcoming double single, Grey Area: Scene 1 & Scene 2, sounds like a conceptual project. Can you tell us what inspired it and what story it aims to tell?

Grey Area: Scene 1 & Scene 2 is definitely a conceptual project. It was inspired by that emotional in-between space the “grey area” where things aren’t black or white, right or wrong, love or hate. It’s about the moments when you’re stuck between decisions, emotions, or people, and nothing feels certain. I call it the introduction into the new SOUNDSCAPE.